The Squad planning thread

I`ve kinda gone full circle on this now and any player who wants to leave just because Pep isnt here should be sold at the highest fee possible and replaced! They joined to play for Manchester City and not just the manager?! Josko missed most of the season but he should at least see how next season goes if the rumours are true? Dias probably knows he now doesnt have Pep who kept picking him so thats fair enough as his limited pace is decreasing rapidly but again, it shows a weak mentality to want to leave because of a manager leaving!
 
I`ve kinda gone full circle on this now and any player who wants to leave just because Pep isnt here should be sold at the highest fee possible and replaced! They joined to play for Manchester City and not just the manager?! Josko missed most of the season but he should at least see how next season goes if the rumours are true? Dias probably knows he now doesnt have Pep who kept picking him so thats fair enough as his limited pace is decreasing rapidly but again, it shows a weak mentality to want to leave because of a manager leaving!
We are in the silly season.

It’s just over three weeks since we threw away a lead and the title at Everton. Had Dias or Gvardiol been fit, they could have come on and steadied the ship; it wasn’t a lack of pace that cost us on the night, it was a lack of muscle, mentality, and big moment experience. Instead, all we had on the bench was Stones and Ake, neither of whom could be trusted on the night.

We’ve just lost Guardiola and Silva, so the club would be foolish to lose Dias and Gvardiol now. Their agents know this just as well and will be doing everything possible to secure the best deals for their clients.
 
We are in the silly season.

It’s just over three weeks since we threw away a lead and the title at Everton. Had Dias or Gvardiol been fit, they could have come on and steadied the ship; it wasn’t a lack of pace that cost us on the night, it was a lack of muscle, mentality, and big moment experience. Instead, all we had on the bench was Stones and Ake, neither of whom could be trusted on the night.

We’ve just lost Guardiola and Silva, so the club would be foolish to lose Dias and Gvardiol now. Their agents know this just as well and will be doing everything possible to secure the best deals for their clients.

Ruben literally just signed a new contract this season? Gvardiol was in talks since January about his as well it seems. Can actually see Ruben not fancying it now to be honest but Josko should be given a pay rise and a new long contract.
 
We are in the silly season.

It’s just over three weeks since we threw away a lead and the title at Everton. Had Dias or Gvardiol been fit, they could have come on and steadied the ship; it wasn’t a lack of pace that cost us on the night, it was a lack of muscle, mentality, and big moment experience. Instead, all we had on the bench was Stones and Ake, neither of whom could be trusted on the night.

We’ve just lost Guardiola and Silva, so the club would be foolish to lose Dias and Gvardiol now. Their agents know this just as well and will be doing everything possible to secure the best deals for their clients.

Like I said above I genuinely think Gvardiol and his agent have seen Stones leave and are now wanting the money Stones was on and you can't blame them.
 
Ruben literally just signed a new contract this season? Gvardiol was in talks since January about his as well it seems. Can actually see Ruben not fancying it now to be honest but Josko should be given a pay rise and a new long contract.
Dias will presumably be the club captain going into next season, and with Gvardiol, Guehi, and Khusanov we have a really strong quartet.

We’re always going to have rumours, particularly when Spanish clubs have elections and upheaval, but reflecting on our own achievements and a little common sense should help frame things positively. The reason these guys come to our club and stay is because we identify the right type of character and we treat them well.
 
Like I said above I genuinely think Gvardiol and his agent have seen Stones leave and are now wanting the money Stones was on and you can't blame them.

I`d have no problem with that to be fair, just needs sorting asap so we can start settling these down and getting ready in the best possible way for Maresca and his era starting
 
Like I said above I genuinely think Gvardiol and his agent have seen Stones leave and are now wanting the money Stones was on and you can't blame them.
Agreed, and we should pay.

It has not been healthy (physically or holistically) having Stones and Ake ride the bench all season(s) to see out their contracts and then have Dias and Gvardiol flogged into the ground. I know it’s their right and they have been great servants, but that’s a legacy Viana has to be careful to avoid.
 
I`d have no problem with that to be fair, just needs sorting asap so we can start settling these down and getting ready in the best possible way for Maresca and his era starting
I would imagine the club will think about the optics of when to announce contract extensions. We must be getting near the end of the Guardiola goodbye videos, after which there will be a period of grace before Maresca is announced. Rather than have extensions announced first, which would see the media say that these guys are pledging to the club and Guardiola’s influence, it would be more prudent to have the extensions announced after Maresca is in place. It can then be spun that the players are committed both to the new manager and the new era, even if the contracts are already signed.
 
Dias will presumably be the club captain going into next season, and with Gvardiol, Guehi, and Khusanov we have a really strong quartet.

We’re always going to have rumours, particularly when Spanish clubs have elections and upheaval, but reflecting on our own achievements and a little common sense should help frame things positively. The reason these guys come to our club and stay is because we identify the right type of character and we treat them well.
I really wouldn’t want to go into next season with only 4 CB’s. Last 2 seasons with injuries at CB affecting us, I would like to see Reis come into the fold or we get another CB to add to the 4 you mention above, all assuming Ake leaves as well.
 
I really wouldn’t want to go into next season with only 4 CB’s. Last 2 seasons with injuries at CB affecting us, I would like to see Reis come into the fold or we get another CB to add to the 4 you mention above, all assuming Ake leaves as well.
I would agree with that, particularly with Reis replacing Ake. My only concerns would be whether Reis would takes up a foreign spot we need, and our level of commitment to the domestic cups. If we’re deprioritising those, playing fewer games, and rotating more regularly, four might suffice.

Edit* If Ake cannot be shifted, we should look to loan Reis to someone in the League. At least then he would be physically ready in 27-28 and not require another season to acclimate.
 
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Agreed, and we should pay.

It has not been healthy (physically or holistically) having Stones and Ake ride the bench all season(s) to see out their contracts and then have Dias and Gvardiol flogged into the ground. I know it’s their right and they have been great servants, but that’s a legacy Viana has to be careful to avoid.

I agree we should give him those wages. But I have feeling his agent is going to other clubs as we’ve just decreased the wage bill significantly with Bernardo and Stones going and maybe Viana doesn’t want to give those wages to one player.
 
I agree we should give him those wages. But I have feeling his agent is going to other clubs as we’ve just decreased the wage bill significantly with Bernardo and Stones going and maybe Viana doesn’t want to give those wages to one player.
I’m sure he doesn’t, but I’m also sure he’ll want him to stay. Confident a deal will be agreed.
 
I’m sure he doesn’t, but I’m also sure he’ll want him to stay. Confident a deal will be agreed.

Hopefully , I just hope he doesn’t think there’s a centre back that would come in on lower wages in the market and do the same the job.
 
Hopefully , I just hope he doesn’t think there’s a centre back that would come in on lower wages in the market and do the same the job.
Even in his 58 minutes against Palace, he showed both his ability and his versatility. We know his importance and I’m pretty sure that he knows the squad we are assembling is poised for another period of dominance.

One thing I’ve noticed is that his agent appears to deal almost exclusively with Croat players, and Gvardiol is his golden goose. Whatever deal is struck, it will be the major earner for his agent.
 
I see Gvardiol as our best CB, lets hope he will stay
I agree, but wouldn't say hes the best by much

Hope he stays, and of he does go maybe someone like Schlotterback can come in

Guehi & Khusanov were a pretty strong partnership, and Dias is still a fairly reliable defender

Sometimes you have to sell players you dont want to, we're fortunate it hasnt happened to us that often but Gvardiol maybe jsut fancies something else... or maybe its just agent stuff

Whatever happens im not overly concerned by our current options if he does go
 
I agree, but wouldn't say hes the best by much

Hope he stays, and of he does go maybe someone like Schlotterback can come in

Guehi & Khusanov were a pretty strong partnership, and Dias is still a fairly reliable defender

Sometimes you have to sell players you dont want to, we're fortunate it hasnt happened to us that often but Gvardiol maybe jsut fancies something else... or maybe its just agent stuff

Whatever happens im not overly concerned by our current options if he does go

He would need replaced if he left though.
 
Schlotterbeck? Please not. Yes, he has his moments, but also a lot brain farts.
 
He would need replaced if he left though.
Yes 100%

You'd like to think we'll get £80m or more so we'll undoubtedly replace

As I said Schlotterback is the obvious choice

Colwill is an option due to Maresca and how he'd be "pure profit" which will allow the to go again in the window
 

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